Jim Bakker built Heritage USA theme park near Charlotte, died at 86

Jim Bakker, who passed away on October 5 at age 86, was known for creating the PTL Satellite Network and the large Heritage USA theme park near Charlotte, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Bakker's Heritage USA spanned 2,500 acres and included attractions such as rides, skating, tennis courts, a miniature railroad, a shopping mall, a biblical-drama theater, and a water park with a giant water slide, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Journalist Louis Moore recalled attending a 1982 taping of Bakker's PTL Club show in Charlotte, noting that Bakker was more focused on being a cable TV star than a traditional televangelist, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Herald-Zeitung.

Moore described Bakker as someone who preferred to let his co-host Tammy Faye take the spotlight while he stayed mostly in the background. Bakker's goal was to be a talk-show host, inspired by Johnny Carson, rather than a pastor or evangelist, the Herald-Zeitung reported.

Bakker's rise included starting with a Christian puppet TV show for children before building his television network and theme park near Charlotte, as covered by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

His work had a significant local impact through the Heritage USA park, which attracted visitors to the Charlotte area during its operation.